Zimbabwe court rules for local hunter in Cecil the lion case

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A Zimbabwean court has set aside charges against a professional hunter accused of allowing an American dentist to kill Cecil, a lion whose death in 2015 prompted an international outcry.

Theo Bronkhorst was charged with failing to prevent an illegal hunt after leading dentist Walter Palmer to Cecil, a lion that was popular with tourists and was wearing a GPS collar as part of a research project.

Bronkhorst subsequently applied to a court, arguing that the charge was vague and that the circumstances did not constitute a chargeable offense.

His lawyer, Perpetua Dube, said Friday that the court upheld the application. Dube says prosecutors can still pursue the case.

Zimbabwe initially said it would charge Palmer but later dropped that plan.